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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

There are a lot of fantasy websites out there that turn their football radar off after Week 17 and don’t turn it back on until training camp. That’s not our style.

We live and breathe football news 24/7 for the entire year, meaning no one is more knowledgeable about every single player in the league. We’ve been all over scheme shifts, free agency, the draft and offseason practices – constantly thinking about how these changes will be reflected in the box score.

In a game where information is the key to success, we’ve cracked the code.

Matthew Stafford2013: Stafford exploded out of the gates with 29 all-purpose touchdowns and 318.8 passing-yard average over Detroit's initial 12 games. He tanked in the fantasy playoffs, managing a 2:5 TD-to-INT ratio and 206.3-yard average in the final month. A sour taste was left in his owners' mouths, which could make Stafford something of a value pick looking forward. He has two top-five QB1 finishes over the last three seasons, and the arm talent to become a dominant passer. Stafford's consistency has been an issue, however, due in large part to wayward passing mechanics and incredibly inefficient play at both No. 2 receiver (Kris Durham) and tight end (Brandon Pettigrew).

What's Changed: The Lions fired underachieving coach Jim Schwartz, who never took Stafford's mechanical issues seriously. New coach Jim Caldwell and OC Joe Lombardi have worked with Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, respectively. GM Martin Mayhew prioritized Stafford's deficient weaponry, using the No. 10 overall pick on North Carolina TE Eric Ebron and signing Golden Tate in free agency. As Lombardi is a Sean Payton disciple, Ebron will be used a la Jimmy Graham, and Tate like Lance Moore. Tate has dropped just five of his 149 catchable targets over the last three seasons, the lowest "drop rate" of any NFL wide receiver. He's a huge upgrade on Durham.

Outlook: Detroit's pass attempts may fall transitioning from pass-obsessed OC Scott Linehan to Caldwell, but Lombardi has an aggressive passing background. Expect Stafford's efficiency to climb greatly under his tutelage. Stafford offers upside to leap into the top-three fantasy passers.

Unlike magazines you’ll find at the bookstore or supermarket, this Draft Guide is a living and breathing animal. We will be updating all the rankings and projections constantly to reflect the latest news, which means you’ll know when the depth charts shuffle around during training camp. It’s impossible to be better prepared for your draft.